So Long NASA...

[Alceste]

Originally Posted by atotalstranger

Oh lord, talk about naivete. Without modern farming technology, we wouldn't be able to feed a fraction of the people that are alive. Additionally, without modern medical technology, the mortality rate would be far higher and life expectancy far lower. You say you want us to put money into feeding people and treating diseases, but you'd rather not have us put money into the technologies which allow us to feed people and treat diseases.

You say that as if having six billion humans farting up the place is actually a desirable thing.

[Alceste]

Originally Posted by silvermoon383

To put it bluntly, you kill the space program, you kill the human race. That is a guarantee.

LOL. Psst - there are other countries, besides the USA. People live in those countries too. HUMAN people. (I know, it probably comes as a shock. You might want to sit down for the next bit.) On top of that, some of those countries have space programs! I know! Who would have thought???

चिंता मत करो! खुश रहो! हिंदी सीखो!

[Dunemeister]

Originally Posted by Alceste

You say that as if having six billion humans farting up the place is actually a desirable thing.

Actually it is.

[Alceste]

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

Actually it is.

How so? You would have been dissatisfied with two or three billion humans? You prefer an extra few hundred million humans to a single Caspian Tiger?

[Thought Criminal]

Originally Posted by Alceste

How so? You would have been dissatisfied with two or three billion humans? You prefer an extra few hundred million humans to a single Caspian Tiger?

Yes, but I also don't want to wipe out all Caspian tigers.

All things being equal, the more the merrier. Of course, things aren't equal. The planet's carrying capacity for human population is not boundless, and increasing the quantity of human life past a certain point (that we've already passed) serves to decrease the quality of human life. So, really, what I'd like is a planet with a smallish, sustainable human population, and plenty of room for charismatic megafauna.

TC

[Alceste]

Originally Posted by Thought Criminal

Yes, but I also don't want to wipe out all Caspian tigers.

All things being equal, the more the merrier. Of course, things aren't equal. The planet's carrying capacity for human population is not boundless, and increasing the quantity of human life past a certain point (that we've already passed) serves to decrease the quality of human life. So, really, what I'd like is a planet with a smallish, sustainable human population, and plenty of room for charismatic megafauna.

TC

Yes, me too. I'd be happier if four fifths of us were not replaced in the next generation. That would be adequate to allow charismatic megafauna a few scraps from the table. I don't yearn for suffering and death, only birth control.

[Thought Criminal]

Originally Posted by Alceste

Yes, me too. I'd be happier if four fifths of us were not replaced in the next generation. I don't yearn for suffering and death, only birth control.

Well, it's really either/or. Either we limit the population intentionally, or it will be limited for us by the usual four horsemen. I vastly prefer the former. The Pope, among others, doesn't. Guess what he can do do with himself as far as I care.

There's a related either/or. All societies, even the most pro-natal, do things to regulate population growth. The limiting factor is female fertility - all it takes is a handful of men to keep many, many women pregnant - so the way to regulate population growth is to regulate female fertility. One way to do this is to regulate the actual sexual organs, as by contraception. The other, which is low-tech but very common, is to regulate the woman. In this way, birth control is essential to equal rights.

TC

[Alceste]

Originally Posted by Thought Criminal

Well, it's really either/or. Either we limit the population intentionally, or it will be limited for us by the usual four horsemen. I vastly prefer the former. The Pope, among others, doesn't. Guess what he can do do with himself as far as I care.

There's a related either/or. All societies, even the most pro-natal, do things to regulate population growth. The limiting factor is female fertility - all it takes is a handful of men to keep many, many women pregnant - so the way to regulate population growth is to regulate female fertility. One way to do this is to regulate the actual sexual organs, as by contraception. The other, which is low-tech but very common, is to regulate the woman. In this way, birth control is essential to equal rights.

TC

High five. No argument here.

[Thought Criminal]

Originally Posted by Alceste

High five. No argument here.

At this point, I'm tempted to paraphrase a Monty Python skit involving paying for a debate and only getting a disagreement, but I won't.

TC

[Alceste]

Originally Posted by Thought Criminal

At this point, I'm tempted to paraphrase a Monty Python skit involving paying for a debate and only getting a disagreement, but I won't.

TC

Don't give me that, you snotty-faced heap of parrot droppings!